Two experts decipher the first images of the James Webb Space Telescope, and explain what we've learned
Today we take a look at the release of the first batch of images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. This is something we have both been waiting for for almost 25 years. Back in those days, we analyzed the first Hubble images of the distant universe, and the details they reveal are staggering compared to anything we’ve seen in ground-based images. It seems the bar has been raised once again, and Webb is set to herald a new era for astronomy and space research. Its large mirror helps it produce images that are two to three times sharper than Hubble’s, and that go much deeper into space (which means it can see dimmer sources). Webb was also able to see far redder infrared wavelengths, opening up new views of the universe. This is particularly important for studying the early universe because of “cosmological redshift,” a process that refers to the stretching of light (with the expansion of the universe) as it travels through cosmic space. It’s also useful for studying interes